The mother of a young girl who was taken by a crocodile three years ago says she is horrified a crocodile has moved into her backyard.

Charlene O'Sullivan has been mourning the loss of her daughter Briony Goodsell, 11, who was killed by a saltwater crocodile in Darwin's rural area almost three years ago.

Ms O'Sullivan called wildlife rangers to her home after a crocodile lunged at her partner when he went fishing in a pond on their property at Lampbells Lagoon, about 50 kilometres east of the Northern Territory capital, last week.

"A croc came charging out of the water at him," she said.

Ranger Tommy Nichols says crocodiles are on the move after recent heavy rains and local flooding.

"The number of crocodiles has certainly increased, there's no doubt about that," he said.

Mr Nichols says it appears that crocodiles are charting new territory in the Top End.

"We are getting a lot more smaller crocodiles moving into areas where we have never really seen them before," he said.

"A lot of rural properties, they back on to river systems or swampy areas which, during the wet season, all flood and all of them join up to a salt water system.

"So the chances of a saltwater crocodile coming up to these areas is extremely high."

A trap has been set for the crocodile, which is believed to be about three metres long.

Ms O'Sullivan says people need to be more aware about salties moving through rural properties.

She says the lurking croc makes her nervous after everything her family has been through.

"I think we just need to be more aware that, yes, the water levels are high," she said.

"It makes it easy for the crocs to move around, not forgetting that crocs do have legs and can walk.

"Just to be more wary around the water's edges and in the grasses that are close to the water's edge as well."

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